Versus

“Between” vs. “Among”

Common English Blunders, Prepositions, Versus

I often hear people use “between” when they mean “among”.

Problem:
The preposition “between” should not be used when expressing a relationship for three or more items.

Explanation:
The preposition “between” means in the space separating (two people, objects, etc.) or intermediate to. The primary definition of the preposition “among” is in the midst of.

If you look up the origin of “between”, you see that the tw in “between” is related to the tw in “two”. You can use this as a mnemonic to remind you that you should use “between” when expressing a relationship for two items and therefore that you should use “among” otherwise (for three or more items).

Solution:
Use “between” when you’re talking about two items; use “among” when you’re talking about three or more items.

“Install” vs. “Installer” vs. “Installation”

Common English Blunders, Devolution toward Simpler, Nouns, Verbs, Versus

I increasingly see the first word used as a synonym for the second or third word.

Problem:
The words “install” and “installer” and “installation” are not synonyms.

Explanation:
The primary definition of the verb “install” is to place in position. For example, Joe can install a word processor on your PC. would be an appropriate use of this verb. The primary definition of the noun “installer” is someone who or something that installs something. For example, the word-processor installer would be an appropriate use of this noun. The key definitions of the noun “installation” are something that has been installed or the process of installing. For example, The word-processor installation consumed 500 MB of hard-disk space. and The word-processor installation has already required ten minutes. would be appropriate uses of this noun.

Unfortunately, many use “install” when they should use “installer” or “installation”. I believe that the use of “install” instead of “installer” or “installation” when one of the latter is appropriate represents a laziness that favors easier-to-pronounce words. The word “install”, at two syllables, is simpler to say and write than are “installer” and “installation”, at three or four syllables, respectively.

This use of a verb as a noun (e.g., The install went well. or Download the install from our website.) when there are perfectly good “-er” and “-tion” nouns is not only lazy but also confusing.

For example, Do you have a copy of the install? could mean:

  • Do you have a copy of the installer?
    –    or-
  • Do you have a copy of the installation?

Other examples abound these days.

Solution:
Use “install” when you want to refer placing in position; use “installer” when you want to refer to the thing or person who installs something; use “installation” when you want to refer to the act of installing or to that which has been installed.

“Can” vs. “May”

Common English Blunders, Devolution toward Simpler, Foreign Languages, Verbs, Versus

One word is often misused for the other.

Problem:
The auxiliary verbs “can” and “may” are not synonyms, at least not in their primary definitions.

Explanation:
The primary definition of the auxiliary verb “can” is to be able to. For example, He can dislocate his own shoulders. would be an appropriate use of this auxiliary verb. The primary definition of the auxiliary verb “may” is to be allowed or permitted to. For example, May I have another piece of cake? Yes, you may. would represent appropriate uses of this auxiliary verb.

Unfortunately, many use “can” when they should use “may”. I believe that the use of “can” instead of “may” when the latter is appropriate represents

  • a laziness that favors easier-to-pronounce words,
  • a foreign-language influence, and
  • an aversion by Americans to ask for permission.

The word “can” is easier than the word “may” to say. “Can” is spoken with an open mouth and comes out of the mouth quickly. It also begins with a hard consonant, which is easier than a soft consonant to vocalize. “May” requires the speaker to begin with a closed mouth and a soft biting of the lips, so it starts with a soft consonant and ends with a vowel sound. “May” must be vocalized longer than “can” to be understood. Try to say “may” quickly; it will confuse many listeners.

Also, consider the influence on American English today of a relatively large population of native-Spanish speakers. The Spanish auxiliary verb “poder” truly means both “can” and “may”; Puedo usar el baño. means both I can use the bathroom. and I may use the bathroom.

As more native-Spanish speakers in the U.S. learn English, they will tend to use “can” instead of “may” because “can” is more easily pronounced and because “can” and “may” are interchangeable in their native language.

Finally — here comes the psychological mumbo-jumbo part — I believe that Americans in general (including me) have an aversion to asking for permission.

So we prefer “Can I have another piece of candy?” to “May I have another piece of candy?” because semi-consciously or unconsciously we believe that we’re not asking for permission by using “can” instead of “may”.

Solution:
Use “can” when you want to refer to ability, not permission; use “may” when you want to refer to permission.